Actinics?

[usmc2b2004]

Ok I already know this is going to sound pretty dumb but I am new to the hobby... My question is what do actinics do and how are you suppose to use them. The reason I ask is that I have a MH with actinics but no moon lights so how do I set up my timer?????? Please help I'm sooooo confused.

[crvz]

Actinic lighting is primarily used for aesthetic reasons. Usually people will have the actinics come on an hour or so before the main lights and stay on an hour after, but it depends on your photoperiod.

[jenglish]

the blue wavelength in actinics is what pierces water most efficiently and if you were running deeper water animals it can become very important. The vast majority of what is kept in reefs is from shallow water (b/c thats where reefs are in general) and so the actinic are mostly aesthetic as crvz points out.

[spamreefnew]

agreed with both above

[Loverotties]

Me too!